Are you finally awake?
"But why won't you look me in the eye?"
"You complained angrily, 'You're too late!'"
"But I rushed to your side with everything I had..."
...
Originally, while the large crowd was drawn in by the band's good looks, they still held some reservations about the performance quality, considering they were a new band.
But when the show started, when the guitar and drums kicked in one after another, when Fumiya Jin sang the first line, all doubts were instantly erased.
The audience's eyes even widened in unison.
This is... a new song... from a brand-new band?
For real?
[+1]
[+1]
[+1][+1][+1]...
...
"Oh no..." Moeha Fujiwara watched the lead singer on stage, listening to his voice. "How is Landlord-san... so handsome? And he's the lead guitarist and vocalist? That's a bit too much..."
Kei Shirogane didn't reply.
Moeha Fujiwara turned her head and glanced at Kei Shirogane.
She found Kei staring dazedly at the stage, her eyes seemingly fixed on that one dazzling figure, as if the rest of the world had vanished from her sight.
"And she said it was nothing. Kei-chan is so stubborn..." Moeha Fujiwara grumbled to herself.
But turning back to the stage, her own gaze gradually became infatuated.
"But if it's someone like him... I guess it's only human..."
...
"Whoa~ Whoa~"
After two verses and choruses, the song reached its final instrumental bridge. The drummer's part was relatively light during this section, so the constantly tense Nijika could finally relax a little.
She knew the performance was already a success. The enthusiastic feedback from the crowd below proved everything.
She had never imagined that her band's debut could be so successful.
She gazed adoringly at the front of the stage, at that handsome figure under the spotlight... He was literally glowing!
Damn it.
This was supposed to be her moment to shine.
But once again, this annoying guy had completely stolen the show with his coolness.
Even her heartbeat had lost its rhythm.
How... infuriating...
As she thought this, the corners of Nijika's lips secretly curled into a smile.
However, at that very moment...
Just as the instrumental bridge ended and the final chorus was about to begin...
Fumiya Jin suddenly turned around.
He smiled, his bright eyes looking directly at Nijika.
Holding the microphone in one hand, he extended his other toward her...
"From your past-past-past life, I have been searching for you."
"Following your clumsy smile, I finally found my way to you."
"Even if you disappear and turn into fragments,"
"I won't be lost; I'll start searching all over again."
"No matter how many light-years I cross, I'll hum this song and find you again."
"
Nijika froze instantly.
She even lost track of the drumsticks in her hands for a moment.
The drumming in the band suddenly stopped.
But the lyrics Fumiya Jin sang, every single word, was like a heavy hammer striking the drum of her heart.
Thump, thump, thump!
Thump, thump, thump!
Her heart felt like it was experiencing a magnitude 10 earthquake.
Bad.
This is bad.
I'm done for.
My heart's going to break.
Nijika couldn't breathe at all.
Her head was spinning; she couldn't think straight.
In her field of vision, she couldn't see the drums, couldn't see the drumsticks, only that one person, smiling and singing to her.
How am I supposed to play like this?!
...
Ten minutes later... backstage.
"Haa..."
"Haa..."
"Haa..."
"Haa..."
Supported by Fumiya Jin, Nijika took several deep breaths in the corner.
She felt as if she had just fainted for a few minutes, and when she came to, it was already this late.
She looked up at the three people around her as if waking from a dream.
"Is... is our performance... over?"
Hearing this, Ryo Yamada let out a snort of laughter.
Hitori Gotoh had a somewhat dazed expression. "Yeah... We... we actually succeeded. Our first performance..."
Nijika was slightly stunned. "Did anything go wrong at the end?"
Ryo Yamada gave her a teasing look. "Nijika, your drumming was a complete mess. Fortunately, Fumiya-san sang loud enough and the crowd's energy was high, so not too many people noticed."
"W-W-Whaaat???"
Nijika's face instantly turned bright red.
"It's fine, it's fine," Fumiya Jin gently patted her shoulder and said softly, "They're just a bunch of high school girls, what do they know about music? As long as the mood is right, they won't notice any problems."
"What are you talking about?! Whose fault do you think this is, you jerk!!!" Nijika turned around and started pounding Fumiya Jin's chest with her fists.
...
In the main hall.
Many in the audience were still immersed in the performance, feeling like it ended too soon.
At the back of the crowd, Moeha Fujiwara turned to Kei Shirogane and asked, "Kei-chan, does this Landlord-san... really have a girlfriend?"
Kei Shirogane, who had been a bit lost in thought, snapped back to reality. "Um... I don't know, but probably..."
Moeha Fujiwara raised an eyebrow. "Probably? Does he or doesn't he?"
Kei Shirogane sighed and told Moeha about Fumiya Jin coming over to borrow a pair of pants on the weekend. She also specifically emphasized that Fumiya Jin had only returned them the next day, and the pants had obviously been washed and dried.
Moeha Fujiwara instantly understood her meaning. "Heh—pretty wild, huh... But, he still hasn't told you he has a girlfriend, right?"
"Well, no, he hasn't..."
"Then there you have it! Maybe there's still a chance?" Moeha Fujiwara said excitedly.
"Huh?" Kei Shirogane understood.
"He hasn't made it official yet, so what's the problem!" Moeha Fujiwara said with a straight face. "Even if they did, they're just boyfriend and girlfriend, not married. Our dear Kei-chan can compete fairly and snatch her beloved Landlord-san from the clutches of some other bad woman. What's wrong with that?"
"Eh? Eh? Eh?" Kei Shirogane looked at Moeha Fujiwara in astonishment. "Is... is that right?"
"What's wrong with it?" Moeha Fujiwara pouted and said, "If you don't go for it, then... then I'll give it a try. Don't worry, when I win him over, I'll share him with you for two days a week."
"Whaaat??? What are you talking about! How can you 'share' him!"
"Because we're best friends, right? Best friends for life..."
"Is that what 'for life' means!?" Kei Shirogane's face turned crimson. "Don't be ridiculous! I... I, I, I... I'll do it, okay!"
"Oh?" Moeha Fujiwara narrowed her eyes, a mischievous little devil's smile on her face. "Then don't you worry, I'll be your backup. I'll help you come up with a plan!"
...
Regardless, the outcome of their debut performance far exceeded expectations.
According to Nijika, the next step was supposed to be a small celebration party.
However, the socially anxious Hitori Gotoh had completely depleted her social energy for the day and absolutely had to go home and rest.
Since it was already dark outside and a light drizzle had started, everyone was a little worried about letting her go home alone.
So, since Fumiya Jin was heading in the same direction, he decided to go with her, postponing the celebration party for another time.
However, just as the two of them were about to leave the venue...
Nijika suddenly ran after them.
"Wait a second..."
Fumiya Jin turned his head. "What's wrong?"
Nijika walked up to him, looked down, and tugged at the corner of his shirt. "You... come with me for a moment. There's something I need to tell you."
______
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